Cyclones Preview: Week 5

CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones (4-2-1-0) kept the momentum going from the strong end to Week 3 as they powered through an undefeated trio of games in Week 4. Cincinnati saw seven players tally multi-point weeks, five of which recording multi-point games. The Cyclones head south this week to face the Florida Everblades in a three-game series beginning on Wednesday.

Player of the Week

Brandon McNally

Last Week: 2g-2a—4 pts

Veteran forward, Brandon McNally, had a stellar week, accumulating four points (2g-2a) in his two multi-point games. The second-year vet returns to Cincinnati after wrapping up his rookie year with the Clones in 2016-17. In his rookie season, the Saugus, MA native ranked fifth for Cincinnati in points (42), third in goals (16), and first in penalty minutes (188).

Central Division Standings

Team

Record

Points

Toledo Walleye

6-2-1-0

13

Kalamazoo Wings

5-2-0-1

11

Cincinnati Cyclones

4-2-1-0

9

Kansas City Mavericks

4-4-0-0

8

Quad City Mallards

4-4-0-0

8

Ft. Wayne Komets

3-3-1-0

7

Indy Fuel

2-5-1-1

6

Last Week

at Kalamazoo Wings 4-3, Win

Goals: Radjenovic (2), Muzito-Bagenda (1), McNally (1), Schultz (1)

at Wheeling Nailers 4-3, Win

Goals: De Fulviis (1), McNally (2), Day Chief (2), Schultz (2)-GWG/O

vs. Adirondack Thunder 2-1, Win

Goals: Leone (1), Knodel (2)

Upcoming Week

Previewing Florida: The Cyclones head just outside of Ft. Myers when they go to Estero, FL to face the Florida Everblades in a three-game series. Cincinnati will be meeting one of the hottest teams in the ECHL, as Florida currently holds the first place spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of eight wins and one loss (8-1), good enough to tie for first in the ECHL alongside the Wichita Thunder. The only loss the Everblades have been handed this season came from the Indy Fuel on Oct. 27 by a score of 5-2. Florida is currently lead by forwards Michael Kirkpatrick and Mitchell Heard who have 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Team Leaders

Points: Shawn O’Donnell and Jesse Schultz (8 pts.)

Goals: O’Donnell (3 goals)

Assists: Schultz (6 assists)

Clones Notes

Cincy 3-Way: ‘3’ was the magic number in Week 4 for the Cyclones. Cincinnati came out on top in all three of their games, which saw four players notch three points within the trio of contests. Veteran forwards Andrew Radjenovic and Brandon McNally, as well as defenseman Chris Leone, had one goal and two assists in Week 4, while Shawn O’Donnell put up three assists. Looking ahead to this week’s schedule, Cincinnati will face the Florida Everblades in all three games, starting on Wednesday at 7:30pm in Estero, FL.

He’s Still Got It: 13-year veteran, Jesse Schultz, has had quite the start to this season. The Saskatchewan native currently leads the team in assists (6) and is tied for the most points (8) alongside Shawn O’Donnell. Noted as being a strong leader in the locker room by his teammates, the vet had a strong presence on the scoresheet this week, tallying four points (2g-2a). Schultz is currently riding on a three-game point streak. Before coming to the Cyclones after spending two years overseas in the DEL-2 in 2015-16, and the Elite Ice Hockey League last season